Race 2 Win: MBNA RacePoints 400

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MBNA RacePoints 400 - Race Notes

Dover International Speedway

Track data:
Race #: 28 of 36 (9-25-05)
Event: MBNA RacePoints 400
Number of Laps: 400
Location: Dover, DE
Track Size: 1 Mile
Length of Event: 400 Miles
Length of Front Stretch: 1,076 Feet
Length of Back Stretch: 1,076 Feet
Degree of Banking in Corners: 24 degrees
Degree of Banking on Straights: 9 degrees

Qualifying/Race data:
Last year's event pole winner: Jeremy Mayfield 159.405 mph 9-24-04 22.584 seconds
Last year's event winner: Ryan Newman 119.067 mph 9-26-04 3 hrs, 21 min, 34 sec
Track qualifying record: Jeremy Mayfield 161.522 mph 6/4/04 22.288 seconds
400-Mile race record: Mark Martin 132.719 mph 9-21-97 3hrs, 00min, 50 sec

Historical data
Previous winners at Dover:
Bobby Allison (7) Richard Petty (7) David Pearson (5) Bill Elliott (4) Harry Gant (4) Ricky Rudd (4) Jeff Gordon (4) Mark Martin (4) Cale Yarborough (3) Dale Earnhardt (3) Rusty Wallace (3) Ryan Newman (3) Darrell Waltrip (2) Benny Parsons (2) Neil Bonnett (2) Tony Stewart (2) Jimmie Johnson (2) Jody Ridley (1) Geoffrey Bodine (1) Derrike Cope (1) Ken Schrader (1) Davey Allison (1) Kyle Petty (1) Dale Jarrett (1) Bobby Labonte (1) Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1) Greg Biffle (1)
Races won from the pole: 11 of 71 events (15%)
Races won from the top 10: 58 of 71 events (82%)
Races won from outside top 10: 13 of 71 events (18%)

Track Milestones

David Pearson won the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Busch Pole at Dover Downs International Speedway in July 1969.

Richard Petty won the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Dover, the 1969 Mason-Dixon 300.

The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Dover was changed to a 500-mile format in 1971 and then to 400 miles in September 1997.

Track Update
In five of the last 11 years a single driver swept both races at Dover. Ryan Newman was the most recent driver to sweep both races at Dover (2003). Other drivers to sweep both races since 1994: Jimmie Johnson (2002), Tony Stewart (2000), Jeff Gordon (1996) and Rusty Wallace (1994).

Manufacturer Update
Dodge won its first Dover race since 1975, when Ryan Newman won there, from the Bud Pole, in June 2003. Newman repeated as the race winner in the fall race, the first time Dodge posted consecutive victories at Dover. Newman won again in the fall of 2004, giving Dodge three of their five Dover victories in the four-race span.

Qualifying Update
There have been five different Bud Pole winners in the last eight races at Dover. Jeremy Mayfield (both 2004) is the only repeat Bud Pole winner there since the fall of 2001. Qualifying was canceled due to weather in September 2003 and June 2005.

The Money
Purse $4,975,638
NASCAR NEXTEL Leader Bonus $60,000
MBNA Mid-Race Leader Bonus $20,000

Tire/Fuel Data
Goodyear Tire Codes: Left-side — D-6798; Right-side -- D-6832
Other Tracks With This Same Tire Combination: Phoenix; Richmond
Estimated Pit Window: Every 90-100 laps, based on fuel mileage

Would You Believe?
Dover International Speedway is one of only three tracks where Ryan Newman has a better average finish than his average start. In seven races at Dover, Newman has six top-10s - including three victories – for an average finish of 6.7. His average start is 8.0. The other tracks were Newman has finished better than he has started (based on averages) are Daytona (24.0/22.0) and Sonoma (9.25/15.75).

Notebook

The field will consist of 43 cars. The 43rd position is reserved for a past NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion, if needed. If unused, it will go to the next eligible owner.

Two qualifying laps will be used to determine the starting positions with the adjustments made afterwards as required.

There have been 71 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Dover International Speedway.

There was one race in 1969 and 1970, both 300-milers. There have been two races per year since 1971.

Three-hundred-and-forty-two drivers have competed at Dover.

Jeremy Mayfield is the defending Bud Pole winner for the MBNA RacePoints 400. Mayfield swept both Bud Poles there in 2004.

Retired driver, David Pearson leads all drivers with six Bud Poles at Dover.

Rusty Wallace leads all active drivers with five Bud Poles at Dover.

Ryan Newman is the defending champion of the MBNA RacePoints 400.

Retired drivers, Bobby Allison and Richard Petty, lead all drivers each with seven NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victories at Dover.

Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon and Ricky Rudd lead all active drivers, each with four victories at Dover. Ryan Newman and Rusty Wallace follow with three each.

In the 34 years of twice-a-year NASCAR NEXTEL Cup racing at Dover (1971 to 2004), a sweep has occurred nine times – including three of the past five seasons. Ryan Newman is the most recent driver to win both Dover races in the same year (2003). Jimmie Johnson (2002), Tony Stewart (2000), Jeff Gordon (1996), Rusty Wallace (1994), Dale Earnhardt (1989), Bill Elliott (1988), Bobby Allison (1983) and David Pearson (1973) are the other drivers who swept both races in the same year.

Forty-four of 71 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Dover have been won from a top-five starting position while only 13 races have been won from a starting position outside the top 10.

Six of the last nine NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Dover have been won from a top-five starting position.

Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Penske Racing and Roush Racing (three each) have won 12 of the last 13 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at Dover. DEI (one) has the other Dover victory since 1999.

Jeremy Mayfield set the track qualifying record for Dover with a qualifying lap of 161.522 mph for the MBNA 400 “A Salute to Heroes” in June 2004. Mark Martin's 97.042 mph average speed for that race was the slowest in history at Dover.

Tony Stewart has two victories and 11 top-10 finishes in 13 races at Dover and had never finished worse than 15th there. He has led at least a lap in 10 of his 13 Dover races. In spite of his racing success there, Stewart has started from the top-10 only four times.

Ryan Newman (three) and Jimmie Johnson (two) have dominated victory lane in the seven races that they have both competed in at Dover. Newman has a 6.71 average finish while Johnson has a 13.43.

Bobby Labonte posted 11 top-10 finishes, including 10 top-fives, in the 12 Dover races between 1995 and 2000. He has only one finish better than 12th in the nine races beginning June 2001.

Tony Stewart and Elliott Sadler have both competed in 13 Dover races without posting a DNF there.

Recent Rookie Success at Dover

Kyle Busch finished second in his career-first start at Dover, tying his best finish to that point of his career.

Scott Riggs posted his career-first top-five finish when he finished fifth at Dover in June 2004.

Jamie McMurray and Greg Biffle both posted a top-10 finish at Dover in their rookie season (2003).

Jimmie Johnson won his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup attempt at Dover (June 2002). Ryan Newman finished fourth in that race – also his first time to compete at Dover. Johnson also won his second race at Dover with Newman finishing eighth.

Kevin Harvick posted top-10 finishes in both of his races at Dover in his rookie season (2001).

Dale Earnhardt Jr., finished 10th in his first race at Dover (2000).

Matt Kenseth finished sixth or better in his first three races at Dover, including his career-first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start (substituting for Bill Elliott in September 1998).

Tony Stewart finished fourth and second in his first two races at Dover (1999).

The 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Is On

As a result of his finish in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway Tony Stewart took the early lead in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup by just 20 points over second-place Greg Biffle. Stewart along with nine other drivers will race over the remaining nine races of the 2005 season to determine the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup champion who is expected to win in excess of $5 million:

Eight drivers in the top-10 in points changed positions at New Hampshire.

Seven of the 10 drivers who made it into the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup are doing so for the second straight year. Greg Biffle, Rusty Wallace, and Carl Edwards are new to the Chase in 2005.

Eight of the 10 drivers competing in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup have scored at least one victory in the first 27 races of the 2005 season. Five of the 10 drivers have scored multiple victories led by Stewart and Biffle each with five.

Seven of the 10 Chase drivers posted top-10 finishes in the first race of the Chase for the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup at New Hampshire.

Three of the “Ford Five” of Jack Roush Racing finished in the top 10 at New Hampshire: Kenseth (third), Biffle (fourth) and Martin (seventh).

Jamie McMurray (12th) climbed from 13th to 11th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings.

A total of $1 Million will be paid to the driver who finishes 11th in the final NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Additionally, the 11th-place driver will also join the top-10 drivers on the stage at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Awards Banquet in New York in December.

Dover Has Been Good To All The Chase Drivers

Tony Stewart has posted 13 top-15 finishes in his 13 races at Dover, 11 were top 10s.

Greg Biffle won at Dover in June.

Ryan Newman has posted six top-10 finishes in seven races at Dover, including three victories.

Rusty Wallace has posted top-15 finishes in his last six races at Dover.

Matt Kenseth has posted seven top-10 finishes in his 13 races at Dover.

Jimmie Johnson has posted five top-10 finishes in his seven races at Dover.

Mark Martin finished first, second and third in his last three races at Dover.

Jeremy Mayfield has posted top-15 finishes in his last four races at Dover.

Carl Edwards has posted top-20 finishes in both his races at Dover.

Kurt Busch has posted top-10 finishes in his last two races at Dover.

Dover Milestones

Casey Mears is expected to make his 100th career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup start at Dover.

Ricky Rudd.is expected to make his 780th consecutive start at Dover International Speedway, the all-time record for consecutive races by a driver.

Ricky Rudd is expected to start his 55th career race at Dover International Speedway, passing Dave Marcis (54) for the all-time record for starts in a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup race at Dover.

Defending NEXTEL Cup Champion at Dover International Speedway
Kurt Busch has competed in 10 races at Dover International Speedway scoring three top-10 finishes. Two of those came his last two races at Dover International Speedway.

Point Leader at Dover International Speedway
Tony Stewart has competed in 13 races at Dover scoring two victories and 11 top-10 finishes.

Winning from a Top-10 Starting Position is the Trend
Eight of the last nine races at Dover International Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position. Only 13 of the 71 races at Dover have been won from a starting position outside the top 10 at Dover, Only six have been won from outside the top 15.

Active Dover Dominators (More than one start)

Bud Poles - Rusty Wallace (five)

Victories - Jeff Gordon, Bill Elliott, Ricky Rudd and Mark Martin (four each)

Top Fives - Mark Martin - 18

Top 10s - Ricky Rudd - 26

Average Start - Ryan Newman - 8.0 in seven races

Average Finish - Tony Stewart - 5.076 in 13 races

Laps Led - Jeff Gordon - 2,117 in 25 races

“The Rocket” at Dover
Ryan Newman has started from a top-five starting position in six of his seven races at Dover. His only start outside the top five came in his career-first start there in June 2002 when he started 38th.

Sweeps at Dover
Three of the last five years have produced sweeps at Dover. Tony Stewart won both races in 2000, Jimmie Johnson won both in 2002 and Ryan Newman won both races in 2003.

Domination at Dover International Speedway
A Dodge has won three of the last five races at Dover International Speedway. A Ford won the other two.

“Last-Timers” at Dover International Speedway

Rusty Wallace has scored three victories and 21 top-10 finishes in his 43 races at Dover.

Mark Martin has scored four victories and 23 top-10 finishes in his 38 races at Dover.

And the Beat Goes On
Both Tony Stewart and Elliott Sadler have been running at the finish in all 13 of their races at Dover International Speedway.

Owner Domination at Dover
Rick Hendrick has nine victories at Dover International Speedway, the most of all owners. His victories have been posted by five different drivers: Jeff Gordon (four), Jimmie Johnson (two), plus Geoffrey Bodine, Ken Schrader and Ricky Rudd (one each).

Starting and Finishing Up Front at Dover International Speedway

Ryan Newman has an 8.0 starting average and a 6.7 finishing average in seven races at Dover International Speedway. His starting average is the best among active drivers.

Tony Stewart has a 15.8 starting average and a 5.076 finishing average in 13 races at Dover International Speedway. His finishing average is the best among active drivers with more than one start.

Top 10 Lap Leaders at Dover International Speedway
Driver Races Led
1. Allison, Bobby 35 2,803
2. Petty, Richard 46 2,205
3. Earnhardt, Dale 44 2,146
4. Gordon, Jeff 25 2,117
5. Elliott, Bill 41 2,050
6. Yarborough, Cale 20 2,049
7. Pearson, David 16 2,046
8. Gant, Harry 31 1,737
9. Martin, Mark 38 4 1,651
10. Waltrip, Darrell 53 1,326

Would You Believe?
Jeff Gordon has finished 36th and 39th in two of his last three races at Dover.

Winning Tougher than Ever in 2005
After 27 races in 2005, there are still four drivers who won in 2004 that have not won in 2005: Mark Martin, Elliott Sadler, Rusty Wallace and Joe Nemechek. There are two drivers ranked in the top 10 that have not won a race in 2005 (Wallace and Martin). There are five drivers not in the top 10 that have scored at least one victory in 2005.

Would You Believe?
There has been a different race winner in each of the past six races.

Points Chase

Five different drivers have held the lead in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings this season.

Jimmie Johnson held the lead in the point standings from Atlanta through Michigan, 12 straight races.

Dale Jarrett moved into the top 10 in the point standings following Bristol. Jarrett had not been ranked in the top-10 since following the Daytona 500 in 2004.

Jeff Gordon was out of the top 10 for nine races (first Michigan through second Michigan), the longest stretch in his career without a top-10 point standing. That mark will be 12 races at season's end.

Points - Would You Believe?
Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth finished the 26-race preliminary to the Chase tied in championship points at 3,114 points. Though Edwards holds the eighth position in the point standings due to the tie breakers, both started the Chase with 5,015 points.

Who's Hot

Tony Stewart has scored 13 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes in 2005, both the most of all drivers.

Tony Stewart has scored 13 straight top-10 finishes, including five victories in the last 13 races.

Greg Biffle has scored five straight finishes of sixth or better.

Matt Kenseth has posted top-10 finishes in six of his last seven races, including five straight.

Mark Martin and Kevin Harvick have each scored three straight top-15 finishes

Rusty Wallace has scored 22 top-15 finishes in 27 races in 2005, the most of all drivers.

Ryan Newman has posted 22 top-10 starts in 27 races this season, the most of all drivers.

The “Ford Five” drivers of Jack Roush Racing have won 11 of the 27 races in 2005. Hendrick Motorsports drivers have won six while Joe Gibbs Racing has five victories. Evernham Motorsports has two and Dale Earnhardt Inc., Richard Childress Racing and Penske Racing each have one.

The Chase - 2005
Week No. 1, Race No. 27 - Ryan Newman won the Sylvania 300 after Tony Stewart had dominated most of the race. Newman led three times for 66 laps,taking the lead the final time with two laps to go. Stewart led six times for 173 laps but had to settle for the runner-up finish.Stewart held the point lead he has enjoyed since Indianapolis, this week with a margin of 20 points over Greg Biffle.

Seven of the 10 drivers in The Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup posted top-10 finishes.

Eight drivers in the top-10 in points changed positions.

All 10 Chase drivers were running at the finish. Kurt Busch (35th) posted the lowest finish among the Chase drivers.

This Week in The Chase - 2004
Week No. 2, Race No. 28 - Ryan Newman won and led the most laps in the MBNA America 400. He gained 29 points and one position in The Chase. Matt Kenseth was involved in a single-car incident on lap 119 and posted the third DNF by a Chase driver. When Dale Jarrett passed Kurt Busch for fourth place on lap 395 of the 400-lap event, Jeff Gordon took over the lead in the point standings. Gordon finished third and led Busch by a single point following the race.

Eight of the 10 drivers in The Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup posted top-10 finishes in the MBNA America 400.

Eight drivers in the top-10 in points changed positions at Dover

Top 10 in 2005 Points
First
Tony Stewart finished second in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Raceway and remained first in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. This is the seventh straight week that Stewart has sat atop of the point standings. Stewart has scored 13 straight top-10 finishes, including five victories, in his last 13 races. He has scored 13 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes this season, both the most of all drivers. He leads second-place Greg Biffle by 20 points after the first of 10 races in the 2005 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. He has competed in 13 races at Dover International Speedway, scoring two victories and 11 top-10 finishes. All thirteen of his Dover finishes have been top-15s. Stewart finished sixth in this race one year ago and 15th there this past June, his worst Dover finish. Stewart has a 5.076 average finish at Dover International Speedway, the best of all drivers with more than one start there. Stewart has led 1,066 laps at Dover, ranking 11th all-time there.

Second
Greg Biffle finished fourth in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Raceway and remained second in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Biffle has ranked among the top-five in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings since race No. 2 at California. Biffle is making his first appearance in the Chase. He has scored five victories in 2005, tied with Tony Stewart for the most of all drivers. He has scored 16 top-10 finishes in 27 races this season, three less than Stewart. Biffle has competed in six races at Dover, scoring one victory and two top-10 finishes. Biffle finished 11th in this race one year ago and won there in June (his best Dover finish). He led 150 laps at Dover in June, the only Dover race that he has led. Biffle has an 18.0 average finish at Dover International Speedway, and ranks eighth among the Chase drivers in average finish there.

Third
Ryan Newman finished first in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Raceway and “rocketed” from 10th to third in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. He trailed first-place Tony Stewart by 661 points at the end of the first 26 races of the season, but now trails Stewart by just 40 points. Newman ranked ninth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings after 27 races one year ago. Newman has scored 11 top-10 finishes in 27 races this season. Newman has competed in seven races at Dover, scoring three victories and six top-10 finishes. He finished first in this race one year ago and eighth there in June. Newman's 6.714 average finish at Dover International Speedway is second only to Tony Stewart (5.076) among the Chase drivers in average finish there.

Fourth
Rusty Wallace finished sixth in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Raceway and dropped from third to fourth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings Wallace has scored 22 top-15 finishes in 27 races this season, the most among all drivers. Wallace is making his first appearance in the Chase. He has competed in 43 races at Dover International Speedway, scoring three victories, most recently in September 1994 and 21 top-10 finishes. Wallace has not led a lap at Dover in his last four races there, He finished 13th in this race one year ago and fifth there in June, his first Dover top five in his last 13 races at Dover. Wallace has a 12.558 average finish at Dover International Speedway and ranks third among the Chase drivers in average finish there.

Fifth
Matt Kenseth finished third in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Raceway posting his sixth top-10 finish in his last seven races. Kenseth ranked fourth in the NASCAR NEXTEL CUP point standings after 27 races one year ago. Kenseth has climbed from a low of 42nd after Daytona to his season-high fifth-place points ranking. Kenseth has scored 16 top-15 finishes including 12 top-10 finishes in 2005. Kenseth has competed in 13 races at Dover International Speedway, scoring seven top-10 finishes. He finished 32nd in this race one year ago and seventh there in June. Kenseth has finished in the top 10 in four of his last six races at Dover. Kenseth has a 14.615 average finish at Dover International Speedway and ranks sixth. among the Chase drivers in average finish there.

Sixth
Jimmie Johnson finished eighth in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Raceway and dropped from fourth to sixth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Johnson led the point standings after 16 of the 27 races this season. He has scored two victories in 2005 (Las Vegas and Charlotte). He has scored 16 top-10 finishes in 2005, three less than Stewart. Johnson ranked fifth in the point standings after 27 races one year ago. He has ranked among the top-10 drivers since Las Vegas in March 2004, 60 straight races. Johnson has competed in seven races at Dover, scoring two victories and five top-10 finishes there. Both of his victories there came in his rookie season in 2002. Johnson finished 10th in this race one year ago and fourth there in June. Johnson has a 13.428 average finish at Dover International Speedway and ranks fifth among the Chase drivers in average finish there.

Seventh
Mark Martin finished seventh in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Raceway and dropped from sixth to seventh in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Martin ranked seventh in the point standings after 27 races one year ago. He has posted 13 top-10 finishes in 2005. Martin has competed in 38 races at Dover, scoring four victories and 23 top-10 finishes. His last Dover victory came there in June 2004. Martin has led 1,651 laps at Dover International Speedway and ranks ninth all-time in laps led there. Martin finished first, second and third in his last three races at Dover. Martin has a 13.394 average finish at Dover which ranks fourth among the Chase drivers in average finish there.

Eighth
Jeremy Mayfield finished 16th in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Raceway and dropped from seventh to eighth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. Mayfield has scored just eight top-10 finishes but has 17 top-15 finishes in 27 races in 2005. Mayfield ranked 10th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings after 27 races one year ago. He has competed in 22 races at Dover, scoring seven top-10 finishes. He finished seventh in this race one year and 14th there in June. Mayfield's last four finishes at Dover have been top 15s. Mayfield has an 18.545 average finish at Dover International Speedway and ranks ninth among the Chase drivers in average finish there.

Ninth
Carl Edwards finished 19th in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Raceway and dropped from eighth to ninth in the point standings One year ago he ranked 42nd in the point standings after competing in just five races in 2004. Edwards has scored 14 top-15 finishes in 27 races in 2005 including 10 top-10 finishes. He finished 18th in this race one year ago and 16th there in June, the best of his two races at Dover. He has never led at Dover. Edwards has a 17.0 average finish at Dover, ranking seventh among the Chase drivers in average finish there.

10th
Kurt Busch finished 35th in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Raceway and dropped from fifth to 10th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. One year ago Busch started the 2004 Chase for the NEXTEL Cup by scoring a victory at New Hampshire and then scored top-10 finishes in the first six races of the Chase. Busch ranked second in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings after 27 races one year ago and went on to record his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup championship by just eight points over Jimmie Johnson. He has scored 14 top-10 finishes in 27 races this season. Busch has competed in 10 races at Dover, scoring three top-10 finishes there. He finished fifth in this race one year ago (his best Dover finish) and ninth there in June. Busch has a 19.6 average finish at Dover International Speedway the worst average of any of the Chase drivers at Dover.

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